Talk of the New England Patriots dynasty coming to an end has persisted but these 2020 NFL Draft targets can help renew their run atop the NFL.
Ding dong, the dynasty is dead — at least according to the millions of New England Patriots haters. The Patriots were one and done in the postseason after Derrick Henry led the Tennessee Titans to a victory. So, it’s time for the Patriots to look ahead to the 2020 NFL Draft to silence the critics and keep the dynasty alive.
The most glaring question is the future of arguably the greatest quarterback to play the game, Tom Brady. He wasn’t himself this season — but did he fall off that proverbial cliff or was it the lack of weapons surrounding him that made him look pedestrian?
Despite having the ninth-ranked passing offense in terms of yards per game, the easy answer is the latter. Yes, the 43-year old Brady looked less than his usual self but he didn’t have the talent to help him either.
Consequently, the Patriots were below average in major offensive categories, like third-down conversion percentage where they finished 18th. They also had one of the worst red zone offenses, finishing the season ranked No. 26 with a 49 percent conversion rate.
According to PFF, the Patriots had a good offensive line in 2019 but that doesn’t mean the draft can’t help them there. They have two linemen set for free agency with Joe Thuney and Ted Karras. So they could have their eye on trench players.
Defensively, the Patriots were stellar for most of the season. They’ve proven they have an elite squad but they aren’t without weaknesses. In the playoffs, they kept Ryan Tannehill from throwing but they couldn’t stop Henry, who exposed their run defense.
Despite the Pats being ranked No. 10 in rush defense in yards per game, they remained susceptible. New England allowed opposing running backs to average more than 4.3 yards per attempt.
The draft can’t fix a team in one season. However, with the right selections, the Pats can continue their AFC East dominance. With just five picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, expect Bill Belichick to do some wheeling and dealing. And these six prospects can help the cause if they could get their hands on them.